AM Brew - August 12, 2024
A Message from WTU’s President
Good Morning WTU Family!
Congratulations to WTU’s Secondary Grade Policy Committee! Their hard work has paid off! DCPS made changes to the grading policy. Also, please take a moment to read about changes to Title IX regulations.
This coming Wednesday, August 14th, we are looking forward to welcoming more than 200 new District of Columbia Public School educators into the WTU family at the New Educator Orientation (NEO) at the Columbia Heights Education Campus (CHEC) and the WTU’s NEO reception to follow at Lou’s City Bar! If you want to volunteer to work with new teachers, please join us in getting to know those beginning their journey of educating our DC youth at these two exciting events. To learn more about how you can help during the orientation and reception, please contact WTU’s organizer Mike Roland at [email protected] no later than the end of day today, Monday, August 12th.
Despite the roadblocks DCPS continues to throw in our way of getting a new contract, your hardworking contract bargaining team perseveres. To learn more, please watch a Contract Bargaining Team update here. If you have ideas on what contract actions your school should take, please contact your Building Representative and WTU’s organizer Mike Roland for support. Together, we must show DCPS we will not tolerate their reduction of our rights!
Also, please note that key Duty stipend and Hard-to-fill bonuses have not been paid out yet. DCPS has submitted both payment requests to the payroll team and they are awaiting confirmation on the exact payment date. When we receive the exact payment dates, we will let you know.
Thank you, as always, for your support!
In solidarity,
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union
Filing a Grievance Over IMPACT Scores
If you would like to file a grievance over your final IMPACT score, please review the rules over what constitutes a violation for IMPACT available here. To file an IMPACT grievance with the support of the WTU, please reach out to your WTU Field Representative by Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024.
WTU’s Official Social Media Pages
Please be aware that the Washington Teachers Union is not affiliated with a Facebook page titled “DCPS Educators Only Network.” The WTU is not responsible for any content posted on the page and is not liable for any consequences arising from a teacher’s participation on the page. Please join the WTU’s Official Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube pages for accurate information about our Union.
TWITTER: https://x.com/WTUTeacher
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/WTULocal6/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wtu_teacher/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvrkj6wxtayL6Rs1htHEylA
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AM Brew - August 5, 2024
A Message from WTU’s President
Good Morning WTU Members!
On Wednesday, August 14th, we will welcome new District of Columbia Public School educators into the WTU family at the New Educator Orientation (NEO) at the Columbia Heights Education Campus (CHEC) and the WTU’s NEO reception to follow at Lou’s City Bar! Please join us in getting to know those beginning their journey of educating our DC youth at these two exciting events. To learn more about how you can help during the orientation and reception, please contact WTU’s organizer Mike Roland at [email protected] no later than Monday, August 12th.
Last week, WTU’s Contract Bargaining Team met with DCPS for another bargaining session. Continuing conversations over what constitutes a fair contract as well as keeping those important rights that we have had since the late 1960s continues to be the goal of our hard-working Contract Bargaining Team. We are grateful for their steadfast commitment to representing the views of our WTU members throughout the hot summer months.
If you would like to file a grievance over your final IMPACT score, please review the rules over what constitutes a violation for IMPACT available here. To file an IMPACT grievance with the support of the WTU, please reach out to your WTU Field Representative by Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024.
Thank you, as always, for your support!
In solidarity,
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union
In Memory
Last week, WTU was sad to hear of the loss of one of our members. John Mungai, math teacher at School Without Walls, passed away on July 31. Mr. Mungai also taught at Deal Ms. His colleagues remember him as a humble, beautiful, and kind educator.
The WTU was saddened to also learn of the loss of Mary Levy – a lawyer, ed finance expert, data collector, and top researcher of DCPS’ budget & policies for over 40 yrs. A mother of DCPS grads, Ms. Levy supported all our DCPS educators over the years and played an integral part in performing vital research to ensure WTU members received fair contracts. Many times, she sat at the table with WTU’s contract bargaining team members and generously gave well-researched guidance to the WTU. A consummate professional, Ms. Levy paid attention to the smallest of details, possessed a wonderful sense of humor, and never hesitated to provide support, even as recently as April 2024 when she addressed the WTU Rep Assembly about budget cuts. She will be remembered for her wise counsel and sorely missed.
Once we have more details of memorial or funeral service plans, we will let you know.
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AM Brew - July 29, 2024
A Message from WTU’s President
Good Morning WTU Members!
The biennial AFT Convention is the most important policy-making body of the federation. This past week at the AFT Convention in Houston, Texas. WTU’s 17 delegates and the leadership team worked hard to review important resolutions, constitution, and bylaw amendments as well as vote on the leadership of the AFT. We were proud that one of the first orders of business by the delegates was to vote and endorse VP Harris for President. We were also excited to welcome her to the convention hall on Thursday! Her message both sent and received for this year’s presidential election was “Bring it On!, Bring it ON!, Bring it ON!” What an end to an invigorating week that started with the WTU receiving the Pride of the Union award for celebrating a significant increase in our membership last year! Thank you to all our members who continue to support our mission to serve, protect, and defend all DCPS educators.
Tomorrow, the WTU’s Contract Bargaining Team will meet with DCPS for another session. We also intend to finalize plans for New Educator Orientation (NEO) which will take place for the first time in four years in-person on August 14th at the Columbia Heights Education Campus. Please look out for more information on how you can volunteer to help welcome our new teachers to the District of Columbia Public Schools!
If you would like to file a grievance over your final IMPACT score, please review the rules over what constitutes a violation for IMPACT available here.
To file an IMPACT grievance with the support of the WTU, please reach out to your WTU Field Representative by Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024.
Thank you, as always, for your support!
In solidarity,
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union
Enroll in Sick Leave/Maternity/Paternity Banks
Open Enrollment for the Sick Leave and Maternity/Paternity Leave Banks is in progress Thursday, June 13, 2024, through Saturday, August 31, 2024! Please use this link to access the change/enroll/cancelation application.
Did DCPS Bring Back Teachers Excessed with DC Council Funding?
All schools had a challenging budget season and had to excess several positions. The WTU is collecting data to see if the excessing process was followed. Now that the Council has restored some funding, we want to make sure those funds are used to rehire teachers who were excessed. Please complete the school budget survey here: https://forms.gle/pcB35vWGn1qsXPRZ8
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AM Brew - July 22, 2024
A Message from WTU’s President
Good Morning WTU Members!
This week has been another unprecedented week in national politics. Despite all the uncertainty, we hope everyone is finding time to enjoy their summer! This week our WTU delegates are attending the AFT Convention in Houston, Texas. Please wish our 17 delegates and our WTU leadership team safe travels. We are happy to announce that the WTU received the Pride of the Union award for celebrating a significant increase in our membership last year.
We also continued to work on plans for New Educator Orientation (NEO) which will take place for the first time in four years in-person on August 14th at the Columbia Heights Education Campus. Please look out for more information on how you can volunteer to help welcome our new teachers to the District of Columbia Public Schools!
If you would like to file a grievance over your final IMPACT score, please review the rules over what constitutes a violation for IMPACT available here. To file an IMPACT grievance with the support of the WTU, please reach out to your WTU Field Representative by Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
Today, two Summer Institute courses - S.E.L. for Instructors and Reclaiming Assessments - begin! If you would like to earn PLUs, please register before 9AM here!
Thank you, as always, for your support!
In solidarity,
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union
Enroll in Sick Leave/Maternity/Paternity Banks
Open Enrollment for the Sick Leave and Maternity/Paternity Leave Banks is in progress Thursday, June 13, 2024, through Saturday, August 31, 2024! Please use this link to access the change/enroll/cancelation application.
Did DCPS Bring Back Teachers Excessed with DC Council Funding?
All schools had a challenging budget season and had to excess several positions. The WTU is collecting data to see if the excessing process was followed. Now that the Council has restored some funding, we want to make sure those funds are used to rehire teachers who were excessed. Please complete the school budget survey here: https://forms.gle/pcB35vWGn1qsXPRZ8
Read moreAM Brew - July 15, 2024
A Message from WTU’s President
Good Morning WTU!
This past week, the WTU leadership joined the Metro Washington Labor Council for a Metro Labor Executive Board Retreat. Thank you again, President Epps, for your leadership in organizing this important conference. We’d also like to thank DC Councilmember Anita Bonds for sending her Deputy Legislative Director to this week’s Contract Bargaining Team meeting with DCPS. We are grateful for her legislative support and for our bargaining team who continues to work hard this summer. To learn more about what transpired, please watch WTU’s Contract Bargaining Team update here.
If you would like to file a grievance over your final IMPACT score, please review the rules over what constitutes a violation for IMPACT available here. Your field representative is available to help you to file. Please reach out to your WTU Field Representative by Tuesday, September 3, 2024 if you would like to file an IMPACT grievance with the support of the WTU.
Please collect and present the following information to your field representative:
- Copy of the final IMPACT rating
- Narrative of procedural violations, citing page number in IMPACT guideline. Note: Disagreement with the evaluator’s comments does not constitute a procedural violation
- Personal contact information (email, phone number)
- Any evidence to support the procedural violation (i.e. emails or other documents)
Please keep in mind that you cannot file an Office of Employee Appeals (OEA) complaint and a WTU grievance. You may, however, file one or the other, but not both. If you do decide to file both, your complaint/grievance will be decided by OEA or the grievance process based on which was first filed.
WTU strongly recommends the grievance process. It allows you to file both a chancellor’s appeal and a WTU grievance. WTU strongly recommends that you file both. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Field Representative.
If you’d like to earn PLUs or graduate credits this summer, there is still time to enroll in the two remaining Summer Institute courses - S.E.L. for Instructors and Reclaiming Assessments.
Thank you, as always, for your support!
In solidarity,
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union
Weekly Update - WTU’s Contract Action Team (CAT)
Watch WTU’s Contract Bargaining Team’s Weekly Update here: https://youtu.be/WF0RmyityDY or click on the image below.
If you have ideas on what contract actions your school should take, please contact your Building Representative and WTU’s organizer, Mike Roland, for support. Together, we must show DCPS we will not tolerate their proposed reduction of our rights!
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AM Brew - July 8, 2024
A Message from WTU’s President
Good Morning WTU!
Despite the heat, we enjoyed spending time with numerous WTU members at Labor Night at the Nats on Friday night! WTU’s purchase of tickets for members meant that a portion of every ticket sold went to the Community Services Agency, and AFL-CIO, who has been helping workers and their families since 1991. Thank you to the WTU members who attended, and we hope you enjoyed the game!
For our football fans, please know we are planning to have a Labor Event at the Commanders Game vs. New York Giants on September 15th! Please keep checking the AM BREW for announcements of free tickets for WTU members.
If you believe your final IMPACT score was negatively affected by the PowerSchool software program used by DCPS, please reach out to your WTU Field Representative for support. If you have any other questions or concerns regarding your end of the year IMPACT score, please reach out to the WTU. If you’d like to earn PLUs or graduate credits this summer, there is still time to enroll in the two remaining Summer Institute courses - S.E.L. for Instructors and Reclaiming Assessments.
Thank you, as always, for your support! Stay cool!
In solidarity,
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union
Weekly Update - WTU’s Contract Action Team (CAT)
Watch WTU’s Contract Bargaining Team’s Weekly Update here: https://youtu.be/uVY941soIR8 or click on the image below.
If you have ideas on what contract actions your school should take, please contact your Building Representative and WTU’s organizer, Mike Roland, for support. Together, we must show DCPS we will not tolerate their proposed reduction of our rights!
Enroll in Sick Leave/Maternity/Paternity Banks
Open Enrollment for the Sick Leave and Maternity/Paternity Leave Banks is in progress Thursday, June 13, 2024, through Saturday, August 31, 2024! Please use this link to access the change/enroll/cancelation application.
Read moreAM Brew - July 1, 2024
A Message from WTU’s President
Good Morning WTU!
Thank you to the WTU members who joined us on Saturday as we marched alongside our brothers and sisters in labor at The Poor People’s Campaign in DC! We marched to protest the evils of systemic racism, poverty, the war economy, ecological devastation, and the nation’s distorted morality of religious nationalism. Thank you to President Samuel Epps, President of the Metro Labor Council AFL-CIO, for organizing local labor for this important event.
If you believe your final IMPACT score was negatively affected by the PowerSchool software program used by DCPS, please reach out to your WTU Field Representative for support. If you have any other questions or concerns regarding your end of the year IMPACT score, please reach out to the WTU. If you’d like to earn PLUs or graduate credits this summer, there is still time to enroll in the two remaining Summer Institute courses - S.E.L. for Instructors and Reclaiming Assessments.
Thank you, as always, for your support! Have a happy and safe 4th of July!
In solidarity,
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union
WTU’s Official Facebook Page
Please be aware that the Washington Teachers Union is not affiliated with a Facebook page titled “DCPS Educators Only Network.” The WTU is not responsible for any content posted on the page and is not liable for any consequences arising from a teacher’s participation on the page. Please join the WTU’s Official Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube pages for accurate information about our Union.
TWITTER: https://x.com/WTUTeacher
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/WTULocal6/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wtu_teacher/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvrkj6wxtayL6Rs1htHEylA
Want a copy of the WTU’s Final Signed CBA with DCPS?
As mentioned in last week’s Brew To-Go, if you are looking for a copy of the final signed 2020-23 Contract Bargaining Agreement between the Washington Teachers’ Union and the District of Columbia Public Schools, please click here.
Enroll in Sick Leave/Maternity/Paternity Banks
Open Enrollment for the Sick Leave and Maternity/Paternity Leave Banks is in progress Thursday, June 13, 2024, through Saturday, August 31, 2024! Please use this link to access the change/enroll/cancelation application.
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AM Brew - June 24, 2024
A Message from WTU’s President
Good Morning WTU!
Record-breaking heat temperatures started out this summer. Please stay cool and safe! Last Thursday, we welcomed WTU members to our WTU’s Summer Institute! If you’d like to earn PLUs or graduate credits this summer, there is still time to enroll in the three remaining Summer Institute courses - Reading Comprehension, S.E.L. for Instructors and Reclaiming Assessments.
Next Saturday, June 29th, please join the WTU as we march alongside low-wage workers at The Poor People’s Campaign. This political, non-partisan, moral march on Washington is intended to challenge the evils of systemic racism, poverty, the war economy, ecological devastation, and the nation’s distorted morality of religious nationalism. If you are interested in joining us at 10AM on Saturday, please contact WTU’s Organizer, Mike Roland at [email protected]. Please remember to wear your red WTU tee-shirt to the march.
The DC City Council wants your feedback on truancy and absenteeism issues in DC Public Schools. If you are willing to testify this coming Wednesday, June 26th at 9AM, please reach out to WTU’s organizer Mike Roland so we can support you. Click here to register.
Thank you, as always, for your support! Stay cool!
In solidarity,
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union
WTU’s Official Facebook Page
Please be aware that the Washington Teachers Union is not affiliated with a Facebook page titled “DCPS Educators Only Network.” The WTU is not responsible for any content posted on the page and is not liable for any consequences arising from a teacher’s participation on the page. Please join the WTU’s Official Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube pages for accurate information about our Union.
TWITTER: https://x.com/WTUTeacher
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/WTULocal6/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wtu_teacher/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvrkj6wxtayL6Rs1htHEylA
Want a copy of the WTU’s Final Signed CBA with DCPS?
As mentioned in last week’s Brew To-Go, if you are looking for a copy of the final signed 2020-23 Contract Bargaining Agreement between the Washington Teachers’ Union and the District of Columbia Public Schools, please click here.
Enroll in Sick Leave/Maternity/Paternity Banks
Open Enrollment for the Sick Leave and Maternity/Paternity Leave Banks is in progress Thursday, June 13, 2024, through Saturday, August 31, 2024! Please use this link to access the change/enroll/cancelation application.
Read more
AM Brew - June 17, 2024
A Message from WTU President
Good Morning WTU!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Father’s Day Weekend and enjoyed the sunny weather! As the year draws to a close, I want to thank every WTU member for your support throughout an extremely busy 2023-24 year filled with school actions, political outreach, community engagement and WTU-member activism. This year, we assembled the largest WTU bargaining team ever with 25 members actively fighting for the changes you told us you wanted to see in our new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Thank you for sharing your concerns with us both in-person, and virtually. Thank you for continuing to testify before the DC City Council and State Board of Education.
It goes without saying that your written and verbal feedback armed with our ongoing conversations with DC City Council and State Board of Education representatives made a difference! With the help of these State and DC City representatives, we influenced DCPS’ decision to change 5AM meetings to times when teachers could attend. It was your Friday Red for Ed photos, and ongoing school contract actions throughout the city that supported our work at the bargaining table. Your school actions and petition signatures told DCPS that DC teachers care about a new CBA that includes the issues that matter. And our work will not stop over the summer. As you know, WTU’s office is open year-round and our Contract Bargaining Team plans to meet regularly throughout the summer with DCPS until we get you a new and fair contract. To keep you informed of our progress, we will send out a shortened version of the AM Brew throughout the summer. Also, please continue to follow us on social media and on the Fall 2023 Contract Page: https://wtu4safeschools.org/ of WTU’s website.
Our union has been working hard this year. One of the things we are most proud of is the fact that we’ve continued to put WTU on sound financial footing by paying off our debt to DCPS and now are working on paying off additional debt. Future payoffs are scheduled for the 2024-25 school year. I’m also pleased to reflect on our action-packed year with pride in the WTU’s focus on literacy for young adults by providing both members and students with opportunities to meet two award-winning authors, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Sharon G. Flake, and by expanding our literacy outreach work. This year, we partnered with community organizations, handing out thousands of free books of choice to DC children and parents at community fairs, festivals, and events. To see some of the photos from our ongoing events, please click here.
Post Covid-19, it was wonderful to see more members attending in-person WTU-hosted events like New Teachers Orientation, WTU’s holiday party, Shared Vision Conference, Legislative Involvement Opportunities, Teacher Appreciation Event, and most recently, the Gay Pride Parade. Don’t miss the opportunity to register for WTU’s Summer Institute if you’d like to earn graduate credits or PLUs. Both in-person and virtual classes begin this coming Thursday, June 20th!
As plans solidify for New Teachers Orientation in August along with new initiatives in the science of reading for our kindergarten teachers, we will be reaching out to you for support. We hope you will join us as we prepare for another exhilarating new 2024-25 academic year.
Thank you, as always, for your support! Congratulations to all our educators who are retiring! Thank for your years of service to the children of the District of Columbia and to the WTU! Please rest, relax, and enjoy the time spent with family and friends. Have a wonderful summer!
In solidarity,
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union
Did DCPS Bring Back Teachers Excessed with DC Council Funding?
All schools had a challenging budget season and had to excess several positions. The WTU is collecting data to see if the excessing process was followed. Now that The Council has restored some funding, we want to make sure those funds are used to rehire teachers who were excessed. Please complete the school budget survey here: https://forms.gle/pcB35vWGn1qsXPRZ8
Read more
AM Brew - June 10, 2024
A Message from WTU President
Good Morning WTU!
This past week was a busy but exciting week for the WTU! Thank you, again, to the members who canvassed for our endorsed DC City Council candidates and showed up at the polls last Tuesday! Our hard work did pay off as we celebrated the re-election of Ward 8 DC City Councilmember Trayon White, DC City Councilmember At-Large Robert White, and Ward 4 DC City Councilmember Janeese Lewis George! Thank you to those members who worked hard on behalf of Ward 7 DC City Councilmember candidate Eboni-Rose Thompson. As President of the DC State Board of Education, she has proven to be a true advocate of WTU and deserved our support.
Last Tuesday, WTU met with DCPS for a Contract Bargaining team session where we advocated again for our school safety and climate change proposals. To learn more, please watch WTU’s Weekly Bargaining Session Update here.
On Friday, we participated in a press conference with national, city and school leaders who announced that after a four-million-dollar investment from the Biden-Harris Administration, Bloomberg Philanthropies is now also investing $9.5 million to expand programming in healthcare at the Advanced Technical Center. National, city, school and labor leaders all came to the table to make this funding possible. We are particularly grateful to the American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten who first planted the seed for this wonderful investment in our city’s children. This funding will create an advanced technical center campus in Ward 8 and help to expand opportunities for healthcare, education, and jobs for our DC students.
Following Friday’s big event, the WTU participated in the Pride Parade and Festival throughout the weekend! We thank the many WTU members who decorated the truck with rainbows, flowers, and butterflies and marched with us at the Capital Parade Festival. On Sunday, the WTU team gave away more than 1000 books of choice to DC kids and their families!
Thank you again for all the support you give to this Union! We wish you another productive week with your students!
In solidarity,
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union
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AM Brew - June 3, 2024
A Message from WTU President
Good Morning WTU!
I hope you enjoyed the beautiful sunny weather this past weekend! I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the WTU members who showed up to canvass and meet/greet our endorsed DC City Council candidates this past week and weekend. Last Tuesday’s candidate reception allowed members to hear directly from our endorsed candidates Trayon White, Robert White At Large, Eboni-Rose Thompson on the importance of public education. Although Janeese Lewis George could not attend due to an important appointment (she’s expecting), we appreciated the fact that she sent Shannon Talbert on her behalf! Our bargaining team met with DCPS on Thursday. To learn more about the bargaining session, please watch the WTU’s Contract Negotiations Team’s Weekly Update here.
Voting is the word for the week! Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 4th, is Election Day and WTU stands to win amazing supporters on the DC City Council if our endorsed candidates win. Please encourage everyone you know to show up at the polls! If you are interested in volunteering at any of the polling stations, please reach out to Mike Roland, [email protected].
Registration is now open for WTU’s Summer Institute! Please register before June 14th to take advantage of our unbeatable early bird special – only $125 per graduate course.
As you know, June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month! The WTU invites all members to join us in decorating WTU’s parade truck, riding/marching in the parade and handing out free books to children as part of our book giveaway. And we are pleased and excited to announce that Randi Weingarten, the President of the American Federation of Teachers, will be joining us to march in the parade! Every member who volunteers will receive a WTU pride t-shirt. If you would like to join us, please contact WTU’s organizer, Mike Roland at [email protected]. We hope to see you there!
In solidarity,
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union
WTU’s Informational Meeting for International Teachers
If you are an international teacher in need of getting important questions answered regarding your visa status, please attend this meeting with an immigration attorney and consultant on Wednesday, June 5th at 4:30 PM. Click here to join.
Important Special Education Survey
If you are a Special Education teacher or related service provider, please take this important survey regarding PowerSchools here.
Join Sick Maternity/Paternity Leave Banks
To join the sick maternity/paternity leave banks, please sign up here.
Sick Leave Buy-Back Program
Applications for Sick Leave Buy-Back are now available. The deadline for submission of the application is June 7, 2024. Click here for more information and application.
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AM Brew - May 28, 2024
A Message from WTU President
Good Morning WTU!
I hope you enjoyed a beautiful and meaningful Memorial Day weekend! We give thanks to the men and women who gave their lives while fighting for our country. Last Tuesday, WTU’s Contract Bargaining Team met with DCPS for another bargaining session. We were grateful that DC Councilmember Anita Bonds or a representative from her office frequently attends our bargaining team meetings. As chair of the DC City Labor Council, we particularly value her oversight and presence. Our team continues to push DCPS to reach a fair agreement as soon as possible. To learn more, please watch the WTU’s Contract Negotiations Team’s Weekly Update here.
Tonight, I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at WTU’s Evening with the Candidates from 3:30-5:30 PM at Busboys and Poets, 2004 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE. Please attend! Complimentary food and beverages will be served.
I also hope you will join us for the last two opportunities we will have to canvass for our endorsed candidates before the election:
- Councilmember Trayon White (Ward 8 endorsed candidate) - Friday, May 31st, from 5:30 PM to 7 PM. Location to be announced.
- Councilmember Robert White (At-Large endorsed candidate) - Sunday, June 2nd, starting at 2 PM at the Ward 8 McDonald’s at 2529 Good Hope Road SE. If you are available, please wear your WTU red shirt and volunteer some of your time to help them out. They need your help!
As you know, June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month! The WTU invites all members to join us in decorating WTU’s parade truck, riding/marching in the parade and handing out free books to children as part of our book giveaway. And we are pleased and excited to announce that Randi Weingarten, the President of the American Federation of Teachers, will be joining us to march in the parade! Every member who volunteers will receive a WTU pride t-shirt. If you would like to join us, please contact WTU’s organizer, Mike Roland at [email protected]. We hope to see you there!
In solidarity,
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union
Weekly Update - WTU’s Contract Action Team (CAT)
Watch WTU’s Contract Bargaining Team’s Weekly Update here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVsAq4LiCU_mjtJrOcqtlw0_yWg4LxvhE or click on the photo below.
If you have ideas on what contract actions your school should take, please contact your Building Representative and WTU’s organizer, Mike Roland, for support. Together, we must show DCPS we will not tolerate their proposed reduction of our rights!
Washington Teachers’ Union Stands with Peaceful Protestors
The members of The Washington Teachers’ Union voted during the Representative Assembly Meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2024 to support the following statement on the student and faculty protests at George Washington University and on many other campuses nationwide:
“The Washington Teachers’ Union firmly stands with peaceful student and faculty protests at George Washington University and on multiple other campuses nationwide. As educators, we believe in the power of education to promote understanding, empathy, and solidarity across borders. As a social justice union, we support peaceful protests for the Palestinian people and stand with the world in expressing horror over Hamas’ October 7th massacre and hostage taking of Israelis. Both sentiments can and should co-exist.
“The student encampments serve as powerful reminders of the ongoing oppression faced by the Palestinian people, including the denial of basic human rights, displacement, and violence by occupation forces. Students and faculty are playing a crucial role in advancing the cause of justice and equality with their protests. The WTU reaffirms its commitment to supporting the rights of students to advocate peacefully for a more just and equitable world.
“We call on university administrators to engage constructively with student activists, listen to their concerns and work towards creating a campus environment that is inclusive and supportive of all communities.”
WTU’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month Activities
Please join us in celebrating Pride Month in June! From 4-7 PM on June 7th, WTU will be decorating our Pride Parade truck outside the WTU’s office. On June 8th, meet us as we line up to prepare for the parade from 12-2 PM! On June 9th, sign up for a shift to help us as we give away one free book of choice to kids at WTU’s festival table.
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